Socket release mechanism



April 15, 1969 c. A. BERGQQUIST 9 3,438,291

7 SOCKET RELEASE MgcaANIsM Filed July 19, 1967 FY I VII/AA INVENTOR CLIFFORD ABERGOU/ST ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 81-62 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for retaining and releasing a socket used with a Wrench. It includes a stud having a longitudinal passage and an aperture communicating with the longitudinal passage. There is a pin rotatably mounted in the passage. A ball detent is movably mounted in the aperture. A spring is provided to rotate the pin to a position so that it holds the ball in an outward position to hold a socket on the stud. When the pin is rotated against the biasing force of the spring, the ball is free to move within the aperture and the socket is released from the stud.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a socket release mechanism and more particularly to a socket release mechanism which is adapted for use on a socket wrench such as a ratchet wrench.

Sockets often become greasy and difficult to remove from the wrench. Socket release mechanisms are known but these often require the use of some tool such as a screwdriver to actuate the mechanism. Those that do not require tools to release the socket often are open and the working parts tend to collect dirt which can make the release mechanism difiicult to operate and require frequent cleaning.

Summary It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a socket release mechanism which can be operated without the use of additional tools.

It is another object of this invention to provide socket release apparatus which is easier to keep clean and requires less lubrication.

In general, these and other objects are carried out by providing socket retaining and releasing apparatus for use in combination with a wrench having a handle and a head. The retaining and releasing apparatus comprises a stud adapted to be connected to the head and having a longitudinal passage therein and an aperture communicating with said passage. Detent means are movably mounted in the aperture. Pin means are rotatably mountted in the passage for normally engaging and holding the detent in an outward position so that the detent is capable of holding a socket on the stud. The detent is freely movable within the aperture when the pin means is rotated relative to said stud to thereby release a socket from the stud. Spring means are provided for urging the pin means into engagement with the detent.

Brief description of the drawing The foregoing and other objects will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a ratchet wrench employing one embodiment of the socket retaining and releasing apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view on a reduced scale taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the apparatus in a socket release position;

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FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to FIG. 7 showing the apparatus in a socket release position.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown a ratchet wrench generally indicated at 1. This wrench includes a handle 2 and head portion 3. The head portion includes a chamber 4 generally in the shape of a figure eight. There is a ratchet direction lock 5 which is connected to cam 6. A pair of locking arms 7 are pivotally mounted in the chamber 4. There are spring means 8 for biasing each of the locking arms 7 towards the cam 6. A stud 11 is rotatably mounted in the head 3 and includes a ratchet gear portion 10. When the direction lock is rotated in one direction, the cam 6 forces one arm 7 clear of the gear 10 and the spring 8 biases the other arm 7 into engagement with the gear portion 10. The stud 11 is free to rotate in one direction relative to the Wrench and locked against rotation in the other direction so that when the wrench is turned in one direction, the stud 11 will rotate with it and when rotated in the other direction, the stud 11 will not rotate. This operation is similar to many ratchet wrenches.

The stud 11 is provided with a longitudinal passage 12 having a reduced diameter portion 13. The stud 11 is provided with an aperture 14 communicating with the passage portion 13 and having a detent ball 31 movably mounted therein. The aperture 14 is crimped at its outer end to retain the ball 31 therein. A pin, generally indicated at 20, is rotatably mounted in the longitudinal bore or passage 12. This pin includes a body portion 21, a reduced diameter portion 22, flat portion 23, and a handle 24. The pin 20 includes a reduced diameter portion 25 extending into the reduced diameter portion 13. The reduced diameter portion 25 is provided with a flat area 26. A key pin 32 is slidably mounted in a passage 16 in the stud 11 and projects into the reduced diameter portion 22 of the pin 20. The key pin 32 prevents longitudinal movement of the pin 20 relative to the stud 11.

A torsion spring 30 is wound around the pin body portion 21 and is secured to a keyway 27 in the pin and a keyway 15 in the stud. The torsion spring 30 biases the pin in one direction so that the reduced diameter portion 25 engages the detent ball 31 and urges the detent ball outwardly in aperture 14 (FIG. 3). When the ball is in the outward position, it is adapted to hold a socket on the stud portion 11 in a conventional manner. In this position the ball 31 is not freely movable in the aperture 14.

To release a socket from the stud, the pin 20 is rotated by turning the handle 24 against the biasing force of the spring 30, as shown in the drawings in a clockwise direction, so that the flat portion 26 clears the ball 31 (FIG. 4). This permits the ball 31 to move freely in the aperture 14. The socket (not shown) can then easily be removed from the stud 11. The weight of the socket will cam the ball 31 inwardly and the socket will drop off the stud. When the handle 24 is released, the spring 30 will rotate the pin 20 back to the position of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 9 wherein like parts are indicated by like numerals, there is shown an embodiment wherein the release mechanism may be rotated in either direction to release a socket. The stud 11 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 1 and includes a longitudinal passage 12 having a reduced diameter portion 13. The passage 12 includes a shoulder 17 which serves to support spring 35 to be hereinafter described.

A pin 40 is rotatably mounted in the passage 12. This pin includes a body portion and a reduced diameter portion 42. The portion 42 receives a pin 36 which is slidably mounted in a passage 16 in the stud 11 to prevent longitudinal movement of the pin 40. The pin 40 also includes a flat portion 43 and a handle 44 which can be be grasped to rotate the pin 40. The pin 40 has a reduced diameter extension 45 extending into the reduced diameter 13. The pin extension 45 has a flat portion 46 at its lower end.

A circular compression spring 35 fits in the passage 12 around the pin extension 45 and rests on the shoulder 17. A locking spring pin 37 is securely held in the pin body 41 and a wheel spring pin 38 is securely held in the stud 11. Both pins extend into the space between the pin body 41 and the shoulder 17. These two pins and the spring 35 are positioned so that when the apparatus is in its normal position in which a socket may be retained on the stud 11, the pins project into the space between the ends of the spring 35 as clearly shown in FIG. 6.

The spring 35 is positioned to rotatably bias the pin 40 so that the extension 45 engages the ball detent 31 as shown in FIG. 7 and urge this ball to outward position in the aperture 14. In this position a socket will be retained on the stud 11. If the pin 40 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the pin 37 will also be rotated in a clockwise direction. This pin engages the spring 35 and as the pin 40 is rotated, the spring 35 will be compressed between the stationary wheel spring pin 38 and the rotating locking spring pin 37. The fiat portion 46 of the extension 45 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 8 and the ball detent is free to move in the aperture 14. A socket on the stud 11 Will then be released. When the operator lets go of the handle 44, the spring 35 rotates the pin 40 back to the neutral position (FIG. 6). If the handle is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the same operation takes place and the fiat portion 46 is moved to the position of FIG. 9.

Thus with the embodiment of FIGS. to 9, the release handle can be rotated in either direction to release a socket. This is particularly useful in a ratchet wrench as it allows easy release regardless of which direction the stud 11 is locked for rotation with the handle 2.

In certain applications, it has been found that the spring means for urging pin means into engagement with the detent to hold the ball in its outward position can be eliminated. However, if the spring is eliminated, precise positioning of the aperture 14 and pin means is required. It is preferable therefore to include some means for urging the pin means into engagement with the detent to hold the detent outwardly.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the objects of this invention have been carried out. It is intended that this description be merely that of preferred embodiments and that the invention be limited only by that which is within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in combination with a wrench having a handle and a head, socket retaining and releasing apparatus comprising:

a stud adapted to be connected to said head and having a longitudinal passage therein and an aperture communicating with said passage;

detent means movably mounted in said aperture;

pin means rotatably mounted in said passage for normally engaging and holding said detent in an outward position so that said detent is capable of holding a socket on said stud; and

spring means for rotatably urging said pin means into engagement with said detent;

said detent being freely movable within said aperture means when said pin means is rotated against the urging force of said spring means in at least one direction relaitve to said stud to thereby release a socket from said stud.

2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising means for preventing said pin from moving longitudinally in said passage.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said spring means is a torsion spring for rotatably biasing said pin means in one direction and said pin means is rotated against the biasing force of said spring to free said detent.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pin has a flat portion adapted to clear said detent when said detent is rotated against the biasing force of said spring.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pin means includes a portion dimensioned to clear said detent and allow it to be freely movable within said aperture when said pin means is rotated in either direction relative to said stud.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said spring means is a compression spring for rotatably biasing said pin into engagement with said detent.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,864,466 6/1932 Peterson 81-177 X 1,981,526 11/1934 Rueb 81-63 3,011,794 12/1961 Vaughn 81177 X 3,208,318 9/1965 Roberts 81-177 3,222,096 12/ 1965 Kaman 81-177 X MY RON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 74-527 

